LOMA LINDA >> State public health officials on Wednesday announced they have fined Loma Linda University Medical Center $50,000 after an intern placed a feeding tube in a patient’s lung instead of the stomach.

The accident, in 2010, was fatal.

The California Department of Public Health issued 10 penalties to 10 hospitals after investigations found the facilities’ noncompliance with licensing requirements caused or were likely to cause “serious injury or death to patients.”

LLUMC officials issued the following statement: “The event occurred more than five years ago. We are a teaching hospital, and we carefully study critical events to identify opportunities to improve systems and practices of patient care.

“At the time of this event, in early 2010, we reviewed the incident and implemented improvements to prevent any further events similar to the one in question. Our improvements have proved effective and there have been no further events of this nature.”

In 2008 and 2009, LLUMC also received what the state calls jeopardy administrative penalties.”

No other San Bernardino County-based hospital was on the penalty list, but two in Riverside County were: John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Indio and Southwest Healthcare in Murrietta.

Both were fined $100,000 each.

In Los Angeles County, Kaiser Hospital Woodland Hills was fined $50,000, according to the health department statement.